Homes Damaged From Highest Tides in Decades Along Parts of Georgia, South Carolina

Jon Erdman
Published: October 27,2015

Persistent onshore winds coupled with the monthly spring tides led to the highest tides in decades Tuesday morning along the South Carolina and Georgia coasts, driving coastal flooding into Charleston, South Carolina, among other areas.

Flooding in Charleston, South Carolina, during the morning high tide on October 27, 2015.
(Steve Petyerak/The Weather Channel)

High tide, third highest on record, set Tuesday morning in Charleston, South Carolina, on October 27, 2015.
(NOAA)

At least 20 homes, including two businesses, were damaged by the high water at Edisto Beach, South Carolina, according to a local storm report from the National Weather Service.
Coastal flooding closed several streets and intersections on the Charleston peninsula Tuesday morning, according to the Charleston Police Department.
Tide levels at Charleston's harbor topped out at 8.686 feet above mean lower low water level, the location's fourth highest tide on record, dating to 1921.
Only three events produced higher tides at Charleston Harbor: Hugo on Sep. 21, 1989 (12.56 feet), an August 11, 1940 hurricane (10.27 feet) and a New Year's Day 1987 coastal storm (8.84 feet) produced higher tides at Charleston Harbor.
Tuesday's tide level was 4-5 inches higher than the peak measured during the historic South Carolina flooding and coastal flooding event earlier in October. Fortunately this time, there wasn't 17-27 inches of rainfall occurring at the same time.
(RECAPS: Unprecedented Early Oct. Rain)
Flooding inundated roads in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, including Palm Boulevard, 41st and 25th Streets. Water flowed under waterfront homes and a condominium complex, according to the National Weather Service.
Tidal flooding was also reported in Folly Beach, Hilton Head, Beaufort, Edisto Beach, Kiawah Island and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
A restaurant was flooded on Hilton Head Island and a golf course was partially submerged.
Floodwaters swamped several homes on Fripp Island, between Charleston and Hilton Head Island. The nearby Hunting Island State Park campgrounds were flooded, as well. Traffic was not allowed on the island due to widespread flooded roads, there.
Along the Georgia coast, tidal flooding at Ft. Pulaski National Monument east of Savannah was the highest since the 1940s and third highest on record dating to 1935, topping out at 10.427 feet.
Again, only two hurricanes -- Oct. 15, 1947 and Aug. 11, 1940 -- produced higher tides above mean lower low water level at Ft. Pulaski.
U.S. 80, the only road from Savannah to Tybee Island and Ft. Pulaski was flooded and closed Tuesday.

View image on Twitter

Follow

WSAV News 3 @WSAV

Incredible images from Sean Compton of the coastal flooding out on HWY 80 #hightide #Savannah

9:16 AM - 27 Oct 2015

• 44 44 Retweets
• 13

Water was nearing a few homes and flooded a dock on Sapelo Island, Georgia, north of St. Simons Island. Severe beach erosion was also reported on the island Tuesday morning.
(INTERACTIVE: Coastal Flood/Marine Alerts)

The surface pressure pattern contributing to coastal flooding along parts of the Southeast coast.

We mentioned earlier, there was no tropical storm, hurricane, or even bullish coastal low-pressure system associated with this event.
Instead, the pressure gradient between strong high pressure centered over the Northeast U.S. and low pressure over the northern Gulf Coast set up the persistent east to northeast winds driving water ashore.
Together with that were the monthly spring tides, the highest tides of the month corresponding to this month's full moon, known as the Hunter's Moon.
South Carolina and Georgia weren't the only ones dealing with coastal flooding. Minor flooding inundated some streets around high tide Tuesday morning in Miami Beach, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach.
High tides swamped docks on Perdido Key, Florida, Monday.

A ramp from the causeway over Mobile Bay to Interstate 10 was closed Monday due to flooding.
Minor flooding was also reported in Waveland, Mississippi, Slidell, Louisiana, as well as Lower Plaquemines and Terrebonne Parishes Sunday night into early Monday. Several inches of water inundated Louisiana Highway 1, the only road to Grand Isle and Port Fourchon, Louisiana.

MORE: October 2015 Carolinas Flood Photos